Kenya contracts Dutch company to build 11 new ports as it moves to boost its nascent marine industry

Kenya has awarded a Dutch company a contract to build 11 new ports as it moves to exploit its vast blue economy and boost the nascent marine industry.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) announced on its website that Maritime and Transport Business Solutions (MTBS) has been assigned the consultancy services for the development of a master plan for the ports.

playKenya Ports Authority workers bust at work at marine tower. (The Essential Business Magazine)

The Rotterdam-based company is expected to carry out the project together with Runji and Partners from Nairobi.

“The KPA is responsible for the port of Mombasa and today’s coastal small ports such as Funzi, Shimoni and Vanga located in the south coast, Mtwapa, Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu and Kiunga further north,” said part of the announcement.

playA Kenya Ports Authority personnel. (the star)

The firm is to develop a master plan study that will facilitate the development of the ports “taking due cognisance of the long-term development framework as outlined under Vision 2030. This report contains port development plans for eight out of the eleven assessed potential port sites.”

In a bid to promote and expand trade along the coast, two additional potential port sites, which do not fall under the KPA Act, have been identified and an assessment has been made.

KPA has identified Takaungu, a giant land site in possession of KPA, and Ngomeni, selected for its good natural harbour conditions.

Also read: HOW KENYA CAN EXPLOIT INDIAN OCEAN AND EARN SH90B ANNUALLY

playTakaungu Creek, Kenya Coast. (Elsen Karstad’s)

KPA is also working in collaboration with the county government of Kwale to develop Shimoni, a small port village and tourist destination in southeastern Kenya near the border with Tanzania and directly across from Wasini Island, into a fishing and tourist port.

In the neighbouring county of Lamu, KPA and the national government are also developing a second commercial port at Manda Bay, Lamu.

playManda Bay Lamu. (Wetu)

The port is being developed to tap into the South Sudan and Ethiopia markets under the LAPSSET initiative. It shall consist of a total of 32 Berths when fully completed.

Last week the government also announced that it had released Sh130 million ($13 billion) to go towards the renovation and restoration of four key jetties in the county which are currently structurally unsound.

After years of doing little to exploit the country’s vast maritime territory covering 230,000 square kilometres and a distance of 200 nautical miles, offshore Kenya is determined to turn the page.

Also read: Kenya’s million dollar expansion efforts at its sole port is starting to pay off and the world’s largest container ships are now docking at Mombasa

playKenyan Indian Ocean (George Tubei)

Lack of sound policies, effective leadership, innovative technologies coupled with continuous underfunding has seen the country miss out on more than Sh90 billion ($867m) annually not to mention hundreds of jobs the marine sector could have generated.

Tapping into the vast blue economy is also in crucial in aiding President Uhuru Kenyatta to achieve his four pillars; food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and affordable health care for all and hence the need to secure it.

To this end, Kenya is seeking to raise Sh800 million as it plans to host its first global conference on the blue economy in November.